75-year-old who led deputy chase arrested

Deputies: Man fled after hit-and-run crashes

The Clay County Sheriff's Office served a warrant Wednesday for a 75-year-old man who led deputies on a chase after several hit-and-run crashes Monday afternoon.

Dudley Webb is charged with aggravated assault with intent and fleeing/eluding a police officer. Both charges are felonies and each carries a $50,000 bail. Deputies said Webb would likely bond out of jail Wednesday evening.

Deputies said they responded about 2 p.m. Monday to reports of a reckless driver in Clay County. They said a driver in a four-door vehicle led deputies on a brief pursuit following a hit-and-run crash on County Road 220 in Fleming Island and another hit-and-run crash reported shortly afterwards near Blanding Boulevard and Bear Run in Middleburg.

Webb was driving erratically and at high speeds in various locations, including on County Road 209 North, Knightboxx Road and Blanding Boulevard, deputies said.

Deputies said they were able to deploy a Stop Stick to flatten the car's tires and then were able to force Webb to stop at College and Peoria avenues in Orange Park.

While not injured while committing the two hit-and-runs or during his capture, Webb's existing medical condition was such that responding deputies determined it was better to allow him to be hospitalized at Orange Park Medical Center for treatment, investigators said.

The drivers and passengers of the two cars the man hit were not injured, deputies said. However, minor damage was done to their vehicles, to the suspect's vehicle and to responding Clay County deputy vehicles that had to force him to stop, investigators said.

Webb has no previous arrests in Clay County, and responding deputies said they still have no explanation for why he committed the crimes.

Deputies said he not only endangered his own life, but also endangered the lives of innocent motorists, pedestrians and law enforcement.

Investigators said Webb tried to strike a deputy with his car at one point, resulting in the aggravated assault charge. They said he also slow down to 25 mph in an active school zone at one point, demonstrating that he was conscious of his surroundings.

Deputies said that despite Webb's advanced age and illness, these are serious crimes for which he is being held accountable.

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